Protective mask for workmen.



1., T.-BRAYTON, mm).

L. EBAY-TON. EXECUTRIX. PROTECTIVE MASK FOR WORKMEN.

Patented July 18, 1916.

2 SHEETS-fSHfiT I.

APPLICATION FILED APR- 25. 19M.

I V Ziijiacssss J. T. BRAYTON, DECD.

L. BRAYTON, zxzcumrx. PROTECTIVE MASK FOR WORKMEN.

APPLICATION FILED APR- 25.31914. v 1,1 91 27%. Patented July 18, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

PAT NT 1 men, n

7 clear, andexact description. of the same,

JAMEs BnArToN, or

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; minim BRAYTOH nxEcU'rRIi-orf SAID JAMEs'r. nnnv ron, pEcEAsnp.

rno'rnorrvn MASK ronwonimmt To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that 1, JAMES .T. BRAYTON, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, cpunty of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented a certain new anduseful Im- I f provement in Protective Masks for. Workand declare the following to be a full,

such

a "aswill enable others skilledinthe art to which it pertains to make and use the same,

, referencef being had to theaccompanying f I of the apparel of the great multitude of workmen who need protection.

The object of my invention is to produce a. simple and novel device for protectingthe face or parts. thereof against light, heat, dust or flying" missiles, which will permit the yw'earerto work in the presence of poisonous gase'swithout being in ured; whichshall be 530 so light as" not tobe a; burden but be entirely comfortable .to the wearer; and which may I be"ad 'usted, when removing it, so as toleave the entire face ofathe wearer exposed.

" ,The various features of novelt. whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with'particularity in the claims; but for a full understanding ofiny invention and of its object and advantages,

-' at its upper rear corners, as indicated at 6,

reference maybe had ,to-the following tailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

arranged in accordance with a preferred form of my invention; .Fig'. 2 is a side view of the head and neck of a person wearing the dew' ice illustrated-sin Fig. 1, portions being "said enl'away for the sake ofclearness; Fig. 'F1g.'2,conta1n1ng,how protective device, and

Fig. l is a'view' niplified form 'f i'n'y: invention.

pnera'lly spea cording to the particular use towhich' it is Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed. April 2'5, 1914. Serial No. 834,880.

which formia part of this specifi- Figure 1 1s a front elevation of a device.

airto Fig: 2 illustrating ng, my r-inventi-on may be ,"co np'ri'se a novel-protective mask whose-"structural details may be varied ac- Patented July is, 191

to be put. For the sake ofbrevity, I have shown only a few simple constructions among which are embodied all of the essential .features'required to take careof the various conditions to which I have heretoifore referred. It will of course: be understood that. where device is to be'usedonly for aparticular purpose, it need .not bemade toembody features. other than'those'necessary to fulfil the intended purpose.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 represents a maskor shield. large enough to ico ver the eyes, the noseand the cheek bonesof the wearer, being preferably made of'soine light stiff materialsuch as aluminum orjtough non-inflammable fiber .bent or pressed into the proper shape. In the arrangement shown, the central portion, 2, of the mask or shield is shaped to extendover the nose and beneath the same to the vicinity ,ofthe upper lip, the part 2 projectingoutwardly-iron.

the wings which extend over thezeyes and cheek bones. The wing portions of the mask or shield are provided with suitable lenses,

3, which may be mounted in cups, 3, arranged upon outwardly pressed panels, 5, extending .laterally from the sides of-tlie nose piece. This arrangement permits the lenses to be held far enough away from. the face to clear the eyelashes and at the same time, prevent the heat of the lenses, in case they become hot, from affecting the eyes. .Thec'ups may be shaped in the manner described in my. ap-

plication for improvements in goggles exe- 'cuted of even date herewith, wherebythe lenses are brought close't'ogether and the field "of vision toward the'front is not obscured.

The mash or shield is preferably hinged to a suitable headband, 7, which may be a fastenedtogether by lacings, '8, which permit it to be adjusted about. a head of any size.

The parts aregso proportioned thatthe mask or shield may either be swung down in the.

position indicated in Fig. 2 'or'it'may be' swung upwardly about its hinged "joints so as to lie on top of'fthe head andout'of'the Way.

Where the faceof the workmanfisto' be protected against heat. or light rays, only,

the parts that I have just described are all that are necessary to give adquatefprotec- "tion. If the-workman must work in the presence of poisonous gases or in a dusty atmosphere, additional protection is desirable. Thus the shield may be provided on the side next to the face with a cushion, preferably in the form of a pneumatic tube 9, so disposed that it will extend across the forehead of the wearer down over the cheeks and beneath the nose and thus form a reasonably tight seal between the mask or shield and the face. The pneumatic tube may be 1nflated in any suitable way as, for example, through a suitable nipple, l0, placed at any convenient point. In order to provide the workman with pure air, an air supply plpe 11, is led into the upper portion of the nose piece 2 so that fresh air may be supplied 1nto the closed chamber between the shield or mask and the face. The air tube may be provided with regulating valves of any suitable type, there being in the illustration only a single valve, 12, within eas reach of the workman. The air tube is pre erably arranged to pass up over the head and down the back where it may be attached to a suitable supply of compressed air carried in a receptacle on the workmans back or to a pipe leadin r to any suitable remote source of supply. t will be seen that with this arrangement air under any desired pressure may be supplied, so that the workman may breathe pure air regardless of the condition of the surrounding atmosphere. Furthermore, by supplying an excess of air, there will be a constant leakage of the same beneath the pneumatic cushion so that the face of the wearer will be kept cool and any poisonous gases or dust which might tend to enter through crevices left between the cushion and the face would be forced outwardly. Consequently, this simple arrangement permits a. workman to enter a chamber completely filled with poisonous gases and to work in entire safety and comfort.

The discharge end, 11, of the air inlet pipe is preferably so arranged that it will cause the incoming air to travel laterally over the inner faces of the lenses and thus .keep the lenses free from moisture. Where the device is to be used in the presence of dust, the outside of the lenses may be kept clean by rgviding the nose piece of the mask or s ield with narrow slots, 13, disposed at the inner edges approximately in the plane of the lenses, so that some of the air will flow out across the lenses and blow away any dust which may accumulate thereon. With this addition the shield or mask permits the workman to be employed in, an extremely dusty atmosphere without male ing it necessary for him to breathe dust or be inthe least uncomfortabllg, and without fear that his vision will be obscured by reason of dust collecting on the lenses.

If desired, the hiad hand 7 may he at-' tached to or forml art of a skull cap, 14, which will serve to qover the top of the head of the wearer and, if desired, skirts-14, of any desired material may extend down from the head band or skull cap so that, with the remainder of the parts, the entire head and face, except the mouth and a part of the chm will be covered; the skirts being fastened under the chin with any suitable fastening devices as indicated at 15 and being tucke into the collar of the shirt, coat or blouse of thie'wearer. lVith this arrangement the wcareris completely protected against dust and dirt,

, Insome lines of work, such as sand blasting, where steel shot are mixed with the sand, it is desirable that the lenses be protected against the rebounding shot and the sharp sand For this use, an auxiliary apron may be provided as indicated at 16 in F ig. 3; this apron being of any suitable materia preferably flexible, and extending down from the top of the mask or shield to a point below the lower edge, of the same and preferably far enough down to permit its lower end to be tucked into the collar of the wearer. That portion of the apron just in front of the lenses is made of gauze or slitted metal so that the apron contains a panel, 17, which does not obstruct the vision of the wearer but does protect the lenses against flying sand and shot. The lower portion of the apron of course rotects the mouth and chin of the wearer. T nected to the mask or shield in any suitable way; being, if desired, secured by means of detachable fastenings which will permit it to be attached and detached at will.

he apron, 16, may be con In Fig. 4 I have illustrated the simplest form of my invention in which the mask or shield 20 consists of a simple piece bent into the same general shape as the mask or shield heretofore/described, but having the bottom of the nose piece, 21, open. The mask or shield is hinged to a head band, 22, at its upper rear corners and having an inwardly projecting lip, 23, at the center of the top, 'lllClf 11 3's "adapted to rest upon a finger or projection, 24, on the front of the head band and thus prevent the mask or shield from swinging too far down. In other words, the mask or shield is supported entirely from the hinges 25 and the lip 23, making no contact with the. face of the wearer and therefore being cool and comfortable. lrVhen the mask or shield is not in use, it is. simply swung back about its hinges and on top of the head.

There is another featureof my inventim which may be of considerable importance.

The eyes of workmen exposed to intense light, such as workmen employed in electric arc welding may be protected against the intense light by using properly colored glass in the lenses of the mask or shield. In the same way protection may be given to the eyes against injurious invisible light rays by making thelenses of a properlyprepared glass containing lead, bismuth, barium or some oftheir compounds. 1 The mask or shield, including the skull cap and the curtains may be coa'tedwith suitable paints containing lead bismuth or barium and compounds so'that the entire -head and face of workmen engaged in eleetric'welding or other work? 1n which X-rays. ultra-violet rays and other deleterious rays are given off.

will be completely protected. The same ex-.

pedien't may of course be adopted in connection with gloves and other clothing of the workman so that his entire bodywill.

erally-extending wingsto cover the eyes and cheek bones of a wearer, lenses.inv the mask or shield on opposite sides of the nose piece,

a member adapted to fit upon the headof a wearer, and a hinged connectionbetween member and said mask or. shield at a P int permitting the mask or shield to be swung up and rest uponthe top of the head of awearer and also to be swung down and be held; bygravity in front of the face.

2. In a device of the character described,

' mask *or shield of stronglight material shapedi to fit over the upper portionof the face of awearer, a continuous cushion on the rear sid of the mask or shield of the size and shape to extend across the forehead 'down the cheeks and across the upper lip of a wearer, and means for supporting the mask or shield upon the head so as to permitit to be swung up and rest upon the top of the hearhand also to be swung down and be held by gravity in front of the'face with the cushion engaging with the face.

3. A device of the character described comprising a shield or mask of strong light material shaped to extend across the upper portion of the face of awearer, a continuous cushion on therear side of'thel mask or shieldadapted' to extend across the forehead down the cheeks and across the upper lip of a wearer, means for supporting the mask or shield'on the-head of the wearer so as to permit the'eushi'on tobe pressed again'st the face of the wearer by th e weight of the mask or shield,and-; an air-supply conduit co nected 'to the shield and opening into t-h behind the same bounded by the an' k larlcushion.

A devicei of the character describedv comprising a shield or mask of strong light ,material shapedto extendwacross the upper portion" of the face of a wearer, a'co'ntinu ous cushion on .the rear side of the mask or shield adaptedto extend across the forehead dovvnthe cheeks and under the nose of a wearer, means for supporting the mask or shield on the headof vthe wearer so as to.

permit. the :cushion to bepressed against the face of the wearer by the weight of the mask 'or shield, and an air-supply conduit.

connected to the shield and opening into the space behind the same bounded by the-cushion, lenses in the mask or shield in position to register with the eyes of the, wearer, and

there being long narrow slots in the mask or I shield in the vicinity of the exterior of the lenses for the purpose of permitting air under pressure to flow across the outerfaces 0f the lenses and keep them clean.

' 5 A device of the character described comprising an zuljustable'hezul band, and a mask or shield hingedat the upper rear corners to the head band, the mask or shield being shaped. to cover the upper portion of the face of the wearer {and having a central":

section shaped to cover the nose of "the wearer and laterally extending rearwarillycurved Wings, and lenses arranged in the wings. on opposite sides of the nose section,

the parts being so constructed and arranged j that the mask or shield may be swungQup upon the head of the wearer and also be swung'down in front of'the face and be held down by gravity. a

6. In a device "of the character-described, a mask or shield of strong light material shaped to fit over the upper-portion of the face of the wearer, lenses in the mask or shield in "position to aline with the eyes of the wearer, and means for producing currents of air EKI'OSS both faces of thelenses;

'7. A device of the character described comprising a mask or shield of strong light material sha ed into a nose piecehaving laterally-extent mg wings to cover the eyes and an adjustable-cap adapted to fit upon the Qhead of a wearer, a hinged connection 'be tween said cap and said mask or shield at a point permitting the mask orvshield tobe swung up and rest upon the top of the head of a wearer and also to be swung down and be held by gravity in front of the face, and deep skirts depending from thecap.

cheek bones of awearer, lenses. in the mask 7 or shleld on opposite sides of the nose piece,

'8. A device of, the character described compris ng a shield or mask of strong light material shaped to extend across the upper IJOItIOILOf the face of a. wearer, .a continuous cushion on the rear side of the mask or shieldadapted'to extend acros'the forehead downthe'eheeks and across t e upper lip of a wearer, a cap adaptedto be worn on the ltead, means for supporting the mask or shield from the cap so as to permit the cush-.

an air-supply conduit connected to the shield and opening into the space behind the same bounded by the cushion, and deep skirts depending from the cap.

9. A device of the character described comprising a mask or shield of strong light material shaped into a nose piece having laterally-extending wings to cover theyes and cheek bones of a wearer, lenses in the mask or shield on opposite sides of the nose piece, a member adapted to fit upon the head of a wearer, and a hinged connection between said member and said mask or shield at a point permitting the mask or shield to be swung up and rest upon the top of the head of a wearer and also to be swung down in front of the face.

10. In a device of the character described, a mask or shield of strong light material shaped to fit over the upper portion of the face of a wearer, a continuous cushion on the rear side of the mask or shield of the size and shape to extend across the forehead down the cheeks and across the upper lip of a wearer, and means for supporting the mask or shield upon the head so as to permit it to be swung up and rest upon the top of the head and also to be swung down'and be held in front of the face with thecushion engaging with the face.

11. A device of the character described comprising a shield or mask of strong light material shaped to extend across the upper portion of the face of a wearer, a continuous cushion on the rear side of the mask or shield adapted to extend across the forehead down the cheeks and across the upper lip of a 40 wearer, means for supporting the mask or shield on the head of the "wearer so as to permit the cushion to be pressed against the face of the wearer, and an air supply conduit connected to the shield and opening into the space behind the same bounded by the cushion.

12. In a device of the character described,

a mask or shield of strong light material shaped to fit over the upper portion of the face of a wearer, a continuous cushion on the rear side of the mask or shield of the size and shape to extend across the forehead, down the cheeks and over the upper lip of a wearer, lIlSS in said mask or shield, and means for holding the mask or shield against the face of a wearer.

13. A device of the character described comprising a mask or shield of strong light material shaped into a nose piece having latorally-extending wings to cover the eyes and cheek bones of a wearer, lenses in the mask or shield on opposite sides of the nose piece, and means for supporting the mask or shield upon the head of the wearer so as to permit it to rest on top of the head and also to be swung down in frontof the face.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES T. BRAYTON.

Vitnesses \VM. F. FREUDEXREIC-Il', RUTH E. ZETTERYALL. 

